WELLINGTON, Nov. 15 (Xinhua) -- New Zealand and Australia are to have a joint trans-Tasman licensing regime for patent attorneys after the passage of an enabling Bill in New Zealand Tuesday.
"The two countries share over 500 trans-Tasman patent attorneys. With many of them already registered in both jurisdictions it makes sense to take advantage of economies of scale and save the profession time, money and effort," Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Paul Goldsmith said in a statement.
Patent attorneys made up a small profession providing specialist advice to innovative businesses on the protection and exploitation of intellectual property.
"A modern regime for regulating patent attorneys ensures New Zealand businesses have optimal access to high quality, reliable advice," said Goldsmith.
The legislation would create a single trans-Tasman register and code of conduct, as well as create a patent attorneys disciplinary tribunal and consistent qualifications.
The trans-Tasman regime will commence on Feb. 24, 2017.
